The air in the cave was crisp with the scent of snow and smoke, and Harry stood just beyond the glow of his enchanted fire, watching the dragon with a mixture of awe and quiet reflection. Its enormous white body was curled into a half-moon around the warmest part of the cavern. Once marred by deep, angry scars from its imprisonment beneath Gringotts, the dragon's wounds had begun to heal. The gashes across its scales were no longer crusted in dried blood, and new, silvery hide was slowly covering the worst of them. Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of pride—Winter was healing, and he had helped.
Winter.
That was the name Harry had given the dragon, named not just for the color of its glistening scales, but also for the world they now inhabited—cold, vast, and utterly foreign. The dragon opened one of its gleaming eyes as Harry approached, and with an almost comical gentleness, lowered its massive head. Harry reached out, scratching behind one of the bony ridges above its eye. The dragon gave a low, rumbling purr, the sound reverberating through the stone floor.
"I suppose you're the only one left that knows where I came from," Harry murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're my last link to that world."
Maybe that's why the bond had formed so strongly between them. It reminded Harry of Hedwig, the silent companionship, the trust formed without words. But Winter was more than a pet—this was a creature of myth, of flame and flight. It belonged to the very blood and bone of this world. A world that once worshipped dragons.
Oliver and Dorin had told him of the dragonlords who once ruled Westeros—of the mighty Targaryens who rode fire-breathing beasts into battle and carved an empire from the sky. Some dragons, they claimed, were so massive they could swallow an elephant whole. Harry had no desire to conquer kingdoms, but flying... that was something he missed with all his heart. Flying was freedom. And now, with no broomstick and no knowledge of how to craft one, Winter might be his only path to the skies.
There was just one problem.
Harry paced around the dragon's enormous back, examining the jagged, brutal spikes that rose from its spine. The ridges were uneven and sharp—perfect natural armor, but terrible for a rider. A normal saddle would never fit, and worse, trying to ride bareback would be a death sentence.
Winter turned its head to watch him, golden eyes curious and calm. Harry gave a rueful smile. "I know, I know. I can't just sit on you like I did with Buckbeak."
He returned to the corner of the cave where he had set up a makeshift study—piles of old magical books from the Black family vault, parchments scrawled with notes, and enchanted candles that burned without flame. After several hours of reading through obscure and often contradictory spellwork, one passage in a weathered leather-bound tome caught his attention.
The spell was originally used for spatial manipulation, often for storing large or misshapen objects discreetly—like trunks with vast interiors or secret chambers hidden beneath floors. But with some creative modifications, it could be used to construct something unique: a pocket-dimension saddle.
If done correctly, the magic would create a pocket of space that wrapped around Winter's spine, nullifying the spikes and creating a smooth, solid surface for Harry to sit on. The spikes would still be there, untouched and unharmed, but inside the pocket they would phase out of the way. It would allow Harry to sit safely on the dragon's back without discomfort for either of them.
The idea was ambitious.
The crafting took two more days. Harry used the basilisk-hide bindings, enchanted iron buckles, and thread laced with unicorn hair from an old cloak Sirius had gifted him. He cast spell after spell, whispering incantations in the flickering firelight. Winter remained still the entire time, as though sensing the importance of Harry's work.
Finally, when the saddle was secured and the pocket-space activated, Harry climbed up carefully. The saddle adjusted itself perfectly, the magic humming softly in his ears. Winter huffed a plume of frosty breath and gave a low, eager rumble.
"You want to fly, don't you?" Harry said, smiling as his heart beat faster. "Alright then, boy. Let's fly."
They didn't take off that night. Harry wanted to make sure the enchantments would hold. But as he camped beside Winter in the cave, sharing cooked elk meat from the stockpile in his trunk, he felt a peace he hadn't known in weeks.
He hadn't gone back to Oliver's mill or Dorin's cottage. They would understand. This cave, this dragon—this was his new haven. And soon, when he took to the skies, he would see what this world looked like from above.
And perhaps, find where he truly belonged in it.
Harry spent most mornings buried in parchment and faded ink, the yellow glow of enchanted firelight casting shadows across the cavern walls. The chill of the cave didn't bother him—not with Winter curled nearby, his heavy breaths warming the air like a gentle hearth. He poured over ancient grimoires from the Black family vault, cross-referencing spell theory, magical constructs, and obscure enchantments. Every spell he mastered, every rune he deciphered, was another step in adapting to this world—a world where magic had grown quiet, where dragons were legend, and where his very presence could shift the balance.
But it wasn't the dusty old books or the long hours of reading that filled Harry's soul with fire. It was the nights.
When the moon was high and the sky clear, he would climb onto Winter's back, gripping the enchanted saddle just behind one of the dragon's massive white spines. The moment he gave the word, Winter would bound forward, and with a tremendous surge, they would soar into the heavens.
The cold wind screamed past him, tearing at his cloak and ruffling his hair, but Harry only laughed, eyes shining with exhilaration. No broomstick—no matter how fast—could match the speed and majesty of riding a dragon. The stars above seemed close enough to touch, and the world below spread out in frozen wonder. Winter flew like a streak of starlight, his massive wings whispering power with every beat.
Still, for all the joy it brought him, Harry kept their secret flight sacred. He had learned enough from Oliver and Dorin to understand the danger. The ruling family—Targaryens—had once been dragonlords. If they discovered that a dragon still lived, and worse, that someone else had bonded with it, they might stop at nothing to claim it. Harry had no intention of giving Winter up.
So, they flew only at night, always high above the clouds, far from watchful eyes.
It began as a curiosity—flying to new places, seeing the lands he'd only heard about through tales whispered beside cottage hearths. But it quickly grew into something more. One night, they flew to the coast, and Harry caught his first glimpse of White Harbor, the jewel of the North. With its stone walls, tall towers, and bustling docks lit by firelight, it shimmered like a dream on the edge of the frozen sea.
Winter landed in the woods several miles from the city and vanished into the trees. Harry made the rest of the journey on foot, dressed in warm Northern garb, a pouch of gold tucked in his belt.
In White Harbor, he introduced himself as Lord Gryffindor, a name that earned respect and curiosity in equal measure. The people here had never heard of House Gryffindor, but that only made him more intriguing. His quiet confidence, noble bearing, and bottomless coin purse sealed the image. He was a traveling lord, eccentric and private, but generous with his gold.
By day, Harry explored. He visited markets and dockyards, smithies and bookstores. He asked questions—carefully and kindly—about politics, magic, history. He learned the rhythms of Northern life, the strength of its people, the pride they held in their ancient bloodlines. Every evening, as twilight fell, Harry would walk into the wilderness, and without fail, Winter would find him, silent as snowfall. Then they would fly to a new destination.
Barrowton, Torrhen's Square, even as far as the edges of Last Hearth—Harry visited them all. And with each place, he collected.
His enchanted trunk became a treasure trove: sacks of barley and flour, crates of smoked fish, bundles of dried herbs and spices, barrels of salt and oil. He gathered steel blades and chainmail from smiths who boasted Valyrian techniques, purchased wool cloaks and leather boots made to weather the cold. Nothing was beyond his reach, and no one questioned a rich lord with generous hands.
In truth, he could have lived lavishly. But Harry didn't want luxury—he wanted preparation. He was building something. He didn't know what yet, only that the world was vast, and uncertain, and he needed to be ready.
Each time he returned to the cave, he added new supplies to the organized chambers of his trunk. Winter would curl nearby, gnawing lazily on an elk leg, watching his human companion with quiet interest.
One night, as they soared above the snow-blanketed fields, Harry leaned low over Winter's back and whispered, "We're not just surviving anymore, are we, boy?"
The dragon rumbled in agreement, white scales glinting in the starlight.
They were more than survivors now.
They were explorers.
Builders.
And somewhere deep in Harry's heart, something else stirred—an old feeling from another life. Hope.
The wind rustled through the bone-white branches of the weirwood tree, its ancient face carved in another age, its red sap tears trailing slowly down its bark. Beneath its shadow, Harry stood barefoot, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his wand clenched in one hand and a ceremonial blade in the other. The cold soil of the North bit at his skin, but he welcomed the chill—it reminded him he was alive, and that magic, though faded in this world, still pulsed in its hidden veins.
From the ancient tomes of the Black family, Harry had uncovered what the Ministry would have labeled forbidden magic—rituals of blood, rites of transformation, spells that strengthened the body and sharpened the mind. Back in his own world, such things would be locked away, considered too dangerous, too dark. But here, in a realm without regulation or oversight, he was free. And he chose to act.
A small stone altar sat at the base of the tree, etched with runes Harry had traced by hand. Fresh blood from a deer glistened on the stone—his offering. Winter, his dragon, watched from a distance, his pale wings curled around him like a cloak. He had offered a few drops of his blood willingly, nuzzling Harry before retreating. Dragon blood. One of the rarest magical components known. And now, mixed with Harry's own in the grooves of the ritual circle.
With words half-whispered in Latin and magic drawn from the ancient books, Harry began the rite.
The pain hit him like fire—raw, searing, primal. His veins burned as the magic took hold, crawling through his body like living flame. His muscles twitched, his heart thundered, and his bones ached as they strengthened. When it ended, he collapsed to the earth, soaked in sweat and blood, his body steaming in the morning frost.
And when he opened his eyes again—he saw clearly.
No blur.
No need for glasses.
For the first time in his life, Harry Potter saw the world as it was: sharp, vivid, and impossibly real.
The next day, in White Harbor, Harry set his plans into motion. He found a grizzled knight—old, weathered, with scars crisscrossing his arms and a broken nose that had never healed properly. The man called himself Ser Harwin the Red, once a hedge knight of no renown, now teaching swordplay to rich brats for coin.
"You want to learn to fight, boy?" Ser Harwin grunted as he studied Harry's posture. "Most lords don't like gettin' their hands dirty."
"I'm not most lords," Harry replied, tossing the man a purse heavy with silver. "I'll pay you double if you make me sweat."
Ser Harwin snorted. "Aye. I like you already."
They trained in the mornings behind an old stable. Harry learned quickly—his newly enhanced reflexes gave him an edge, though Harwin never went easy on him.
"Footwork, Gryffindor!" the knight bellowed. "If your feet ain't planted right, you're dead before the blade even swings!"
And Harry listened. Every lesson, every bruise, every blister hardened him. His movements became quicker, his stance more confident. It wasn't just about fighting. It was about understanding power in this world. A wand wouldn't always protect him.
Alongside his sword lessons, Harry took to horseback with a vengeance. He had already purchased several strong northern horses—stallions and mares bred for the cold. He kept them in his trunk, shrunken with precision, each with their own name and gear. But riding a horse was more than owning one.
So, with Ser Harwin beside him, he rode through the snow-dusted forests and rolling fields. He learned balance, control, how to read a horse's breathing and listen to its rhythm. His preferred mount was a black mare he named Shade, swift and silent.
One evening, after a long ride, they camped near a frozen stream. Harwin was skinning a rabbit while Harry watched the stars.
"You ride like a man born to it now," Harwin muttered, glancing over. "And your sword arm's comin' along. You got something in your blood, Gryffindor. Fire, maybe."
Harry smiled slightly. "Maybe."
But Harry had one more reason for this journey.
He was heading north. Past villages and forests, up into the realm of eternal cold. To Castle Black. To The Wall.
The ancient Wall—soaring, mythic, carved from magic and ice. The moment Harry had heard of it, he knew he had to see it with his own eyes. It wasn't just curiosity—it was calling to him. There was magic in that place. Magic of the old world. And if it still lingered, Harry wanted to understand it. To study it.
Winter remained far behind, hidden in a glacial crevasse in the Frostfangs, responding to Harry through their growing mental link when needed. The dragon didn't protest being left alone. In truth, he understood. Harry needed to walk this road with his own two feet.
So with Shade beneath him and Ser Harwin by his side, Harry Gryffindor rode north—toward the great Wall of ice, toward secrets older than any book, and toward a destiny no wand could have foreseen.
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